Dodge City times. [volume] (Dodge City, Kan.) 1876-1892, 1887-12-08

II seemed as IL Two lttti0 u0nQS tOuC00O
him from behind. He turned and looked
at the fence, expecting to see them. He
cringed and walked across the road: he
would go into tho house and get away
from fences and fields.
Matty was sitting on the front steps
singing. Here was something cheerful at
last. He sat down beside her and the first
thing she did was to rest her head against
his arm. He rose angrily and asked for
his pipe, then he seated himself in a chair
on the porch. Matty filled the pipe and
brought it to her father; then she sat Oh
the step and went on with her singing.
The girl had a lover who liked her good
nature and did not object to her shiftless-
ness, SO she thought about him as she
sung.
1t was a quiet, lonely time for Nathan.
Where was the little head resting now in
this darkness? Baby Stafford was alone
in the night; the dew had already fallen
upon him. Was he sobbing now or had
sleep brought him rest? A sound of mems
voices was heard down the road, and
Matty said: "Listen, pa; that's Stafford
and the Turner boys. They're a-huntin'
of Baby. reckon they'll stop hyer asin."
Nathan listened, and heard one of the
men say: "I'il stop an asst Felder's folks
if he's been thar" 'No," Ezra answered,
81 asst Matty to-day; they dom know.
Pm feared they amt no hope" A cold
perspiration stood on Nathan's face and
hands, but he held himself still in his
chair until they We're gone. Wien the
last sound of their horses feet had died
away Matty rose with yawn and said:
''Hit'll be right bad if they don't fin
Baby an Miss Stafford dies" There was
no answer, so she started into the house
with careless "Good- pa; Pm
agoing to bed"
VIXEN she was gone the light from Ma
than's pipe went out, and as thu cool
breeze of the night shook the trees, the
child-vo:ce seemed borne to him, calling
and crying: Il reckon his pail find lin
to -morrer, an may be he won't "a done no
more'n ketched cold. Like as not, he's
sound asleep Already" But what sleep!
The little face wet with dew, and dra wn
with terror and loneliness. Perhaps he
had been hungry. Matty said he ha d been
gone all day. This was a new thought,
and the Precipitation came out damper and
colder on Nathan's face and hands as he
chung tightly to the rounds of his chair.
L
apple, anyhow, and he ct it," This thought
him again. So far from killing the
boy he had given the little one the only
food he had eaten since the morning. OF
course he would not have done it if he had
known, but that did not change what had
been.
anyway, if Ezra's boy dies me an
him'll be even" He pressed that thought
close to his heart and tried to still it's
wild beating. He could not shut out that
twilight scene, the green field, the
trusting child lying before him, with
closed eyes and trembling mouth, feeling
that a friend and not Death kept watch
above him. Nathan felt the stone in his
hand and he made motion to thrust it
away from him. He rose. it was getting
late and chilly, he would go to bed. He
went inside and buttoned the door.
Every thing was dark, and as he went
toward the match-safe, near which his
candle stood, his face touched something
soft and warm. 1t was Matty's shawl
which hung on a nail near the matches.
The candle was lighted and Nathan went
TO his room and sat on the edge of his bod
The passion had gone from his face and
left it pale and weary. "Hit's been a
hard fight, but 1 ain't whipped yit." he
said, G he began to unite his shoes. can
Pm blamed if Pm agoin' to be-" Once
more the flare of anger was in his face.
'Hit's the fuSt chancs in all These years
['ve had to git even; but Pm just as lone
some an no count as l ever was" Like
the Pickering rays of a candle passion was
gone again. "Hit must be about mid
night, an ain't sleepy one bit. 1 wisht
Matty'd a-stayed up longer, that would a
sorter bo!stered me up. l amt good for
noth;n' by myself"
Both shoes were united now, but he did
not let them slip from his feet. He made
no further effort at undressing himself,
but leaned over and rested his head on the
pillow. 1t was very soft to his tired head,
but he could not sta Y so. He sprang bolt
upright and sat there for moment, then
be slowly pulled his silver watch out of
his pocket and look ed at it. PAS mid
night" he said, with a sigh. Then he
rose, took his candle and went into the
passage way to the nail where Matty's
shawl was hanging. He took the shawl
down, blew out his candle and crept
softly out the front door. On he went,
through the still, dark night, down the
lonely roadway and across the broad
fields, his heart throbbing and every
nerve strained to the highest tension. He
listened, and listened, and longed for that
voice; he crossed the foot-bridge over the
creek and heard again the sobbing in the
water, then he quickened his steps till his
breath came short, and in the corn-field
he was obliged to stop for rest. He drew
near the spot and all was quiet. A hope
came to him, perhaps the boy had been
found and was asleep in his mothers
arms. But this hope died and left cold
sinking in his heart when he peered
through the fence and saw a dark little
figure lying close beside it. The story
was easy to read. After long watchin
and calling through the bars this home
less, tired little lamb had fallen and slept.
A baby all day and all night without
home, without mother and without food.
Nathan felt it all, and he leaped the fence
and touched the child's cald face and
hands, and listened for his breathing;
hen he wrapped the shawl around the
boy and took him gently in his arms. 1t
was harder work to climb the fences and
walk through the fields now, but was ever
. burden sweeter and holier!
There were ninety-nine that safely lay
In the shelter of the fold,
But one had wandered far away
To the desert so lone and cold
81 dom know what makes them lines
keep a-runuin' in my head now," Nathan
thought. ''That lamb b'lodged to the
shepherd, an hyer l am totin' mother
mans lamb jest for no reason on the arth
but me not havin' pluck to leave it 'lone."
Baby Stafford's arms frightened round
neck. 81 dom know what's the
matter with me. Niggers amt got no re.
spec fer me jest cause Pm SO easy-goin'
with 'em. But never'd a thought I'd
toted Stafford's boy home fer HMM the